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An excellent selection that allows children and families to reflect on the richness of who they are and what “back home” means to them.
A powerful story conveying the strength of friendship and full of resilience, this lovely picture book is highly recommended.
The stunning combination of Watson’s poetic text with Jackson’s delightful illustrations make this an ideal selection for both group read-alouds and one-on-one sharing. Highly recommended for purchase for all collections.
This is a fun and accessible graphic novel, and a good comical option for young readers to enjoy.
This will appeal to fans of mythology. The book is equal parts perfect character development and page-turning plot; it would be an excellent addition to high school libraries and public libraries alike.
PREMIUM
Today Is Orange Shirt Day
An accessible way for families to celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of every individual, and to support the ongoing memory of those who experienced life in Canada’s residential school system.
Highly recommended for empathy building as well as a cultural window into a small piece of Iranian culture.
PREMIUM
All Aboard for Noah’s Ark!
A clever twist on a familiar story with a positive secular message.
This is an exceptional work that deserves the widest possible audience; highly recommended for all collections.
This is an excellent story time addition that supports social-emotional development through the lens of a cautious chicken.
PREMIUM
The Dangerous Ones
Most libraries can give this a pass because of its implausible romance, overuse of contemporary language, and obvious plot twists. Stick with Justina Ireland’s fabulous Dread Nation if teen readers want reimagined historical fiction with a side of horror.
PREMIUM
Soul Step
A wonderfully rhythmic picture book on an aspect of Black culture that is not often highlighted in the picture book format.
PREMIUM
The Blue Bowl
Crammed with food, family, and love; this is a book for any child straddling the old world and the new one.
PREMIUM
The Perfect Place
Sharing the message that things do not have to be perfect to be beautiful, this picture book is a good choice for children’s collections.
This well-paced fantastical mystery will keep young readers turning the pages.
PREMIUM
Noodles on a Bicycle
This is a heartwarming tale with an engaging story and beautiful illustrations that are sure to entertain children.
PREMIUM
Submarines
A great choice for elementary and middle school collections in need of information about submarines and oceans.
PREMIUM
Jimmy the Blue Jay Feels Jealous
These could work as conversation starters in a classroom library, but there are more engaging books for exploring feelings with kids.
PREMIUM
Mason the Moose Feels Mad
These could work as conversation starters in a classroom library, but there are more engaging books for exploring feelings with kids.
PREMIUM
Nando the Newt Feels Nervous
These could work as conversation starters in a classroom library, but there are more engaging books for exploring feelings with kids.
PREMIUM
Sally the Skunk Feels Scared
These could work as conversation starters in a classroom library, but there are more engaging books for exploring feelings with kids.
PREMIUM
Harper the Hare Feels Happy
These could work as conversation starters in a classroom library, but there are more engaging books for exploring feelings with kids.
PREMIUM
Sam the Snake Feels Sad
These could work as conversation starters in a classroom library, but there are more engaging books for exploring feelings with kids.
This is an excellent choice for all ages and will undoubtedly lead readers to reflect on their own lives and think of what makes them feel saudade. Highly recommended for all picture book collections.
An excellent choice for sharing Halloween and Día de los Muertos with young readers, this bilingual picture book is perfect for school and public libraries.
Smartly crafted, this is a modern Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret told with verve and humor, and can be shared with all students.
Not for everyone, but kids will clamor to get a whiff of this mystery that is right on the nose. Great fun! Highly recommended.
Life takes its own twists and turns, whatever the magic of the library intends. But the love of fantasy and writing and books ran deep, deep, deep. The power of the library would not be denied in the end.
At the Newbery Caldecott Legacy Awards Banquet during ALA Annual, Caldecott winner Vashti Harrison and Newbery Medalist Dave Eggers shared previously unknown, very personal stories about the difficult events that led to the creation of their award-winning books.
A beautiful tale of loss and adjustment; for those who have never had to leave home, perhaps a lesson in insight and empathy. Highly recommended for all collections.
Touching upon the importance of sharing and kindness, this lovely picture book also introduces a beautiful ocean world and Aztec mythology to young readers.
PREMIUM
It Bears Repeating
Rich language and striking illustrations take this counting book beyond the standard fare. A real treat and recommended.
A gorgeous message of encouragement for Black girls; a great choice for any library’s collection.
PREMIUM
What Can a Mess Make?
A childhood scamper through simple pleasures of sibling fun made with the materials found around them, this is a delightful book to share, especially on those “there’s nothing to do” days of summer.
This beautifully illustrated picture book tackles bullying and fitting in; an essential purchase for the picture book shelf.
This lovely book will teach children what makes a community safe and beautiful; a great addition to any collection.
PREMIUM
Carla’s Glasses
A solid choice for most collections, this book details an important rite of passage for many children, and could be especially useful for parents helping their child navigate wearing glasses for the first time.
PREMIUM
The River Is My Ocean
For fans of Last Stop on Market Street, this book is sure to delight younger readers and is nice addition to library shelves that lends itself to further discussion of gods and goddesses in mythology.
A recommended addition to picture book collections in elementary schools and public libraries.
PREMIUM
Desert Song
A beautiful book celebrating music and family, offering multiple avenues into lessons on the environment, cultures, family, music, and more.
PREMIUM
Hekla and Laki
An innovative and beautifully illustrated story that will inspire rich discussions over multiple readings.
PREMIUM
The Digger and the Dark
An enjoyable bedtime or story hour treat; youngsters will wait for this book to make an appearance in their days or nights.
PREMIUM
A Taste of Home
This is a highly effective tool for encouraging children to look into the rich diversity in their communities and realize the many ways immigration adds to the American experience for all who live here.
This may be too subdued to stand out among other picture books, but there are small lessons to be learned about companionship, appreciating each moment shared, and making the best of an experience regardless of the outcome.
PREMIUM
A Horse Called Now
This gentle animal story equips readers with strategies to combat anxiety. An excellent choice for story times about feelings or a comforting bedtime story.
Unique and utterly accessible, this sweet friendship story is a delightful addition to library collections for young readers.
PREMIUM
Show Up and Vote
An important, accessible read for young readers and a must for all collections.
PREMIUM
The Day We Got Lost
An additional purchase, this is nevertheless a sweet book celebrating family, togetherness, belonging, and love.
PREMIUM
The Girl and the Mermaid
An additional selection, mostly for fans of merpeople and underwater adventures.
PREMIUM
Lady of Steel and Straw
Fans of dark fantasy with memorable characters and worldbuilding will look forward to the sequel of this debut duology. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Louder Than Words
An engaging story about self-esteem and choices that teen girls, especially, will appreciate.
Powerfully angry and vengeance-laden, with terrifying and very human monsters.
A great first purchase for all libraries, with a unique hero’s journey for Ezra as he begins to assume adult responsibilities.
PREMIUM
Hearts Overboard
There’s just enough romance and tension to satisfy young readers looking for a fun summer book.
PREMIUM
The Wilderness of Girls
A good purchase for libraries where Rory Power or Nina LaCour are popular.
PREMIUM
Of Jade and Dragons
The basic but well-crafted plot makes this a good entry into YA fantasy. Recommended for larger collections where fantasy is popular.
PREMIUM
Beneath These Cursed Stars
Those who enjoyed Ryan’s “These Hollow Vows” series will appreciate the start to this one, so long as they don’t mind waiting for the sequel for resolutions.
PREMIUM
Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet
This novel is both sweet and sad but will leave readers feeling hopeful.
PREMIUM
Two Sides to Every Murder
A twisty, edge-of-your-seat thriller mystery with a surprise ending that will stay with readers.
PREMIUM
The Midnight Game
Fans of Adam Cesare’s Clown in a Cornfield or Kathryn Foxfield’s Tag, You’re Dead will devour this one.
PREMIUM
The Ones Who Come Back Hungry
A well-written and thoughtful approach to emotional vampirism for collections serving high schoolers.
PREMIUM
Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses
A fun setting and a couple who readers will root for make this a great light romance selection.
A sweet and silly mystery comic for kids just dipping their toes into the genre.
A heartwarming story of a dog’s loyalty to their human pack, perfect for young dog lovers.
PREMIUM
Pinkalicious: Lost in Paris
A good choice for new and old fans of Pinkalicious and her adventures; especially recommended for beginning readers.
PREMIUM
Reina Ramos: Neighborhood Helper
A solid choice for early readers, especially recommended for students in immersive or bilingual classrooms.
A compelling and poignant book that celebrates a courageous young girl’s journey toward growing up.
PREMIUM
Library Girl
A love letter to books and the dreamers who read them. Hand this charming story to precocious readers and fans of Matilda.
PREMIUM
Caught Dead
The literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster, this spine-tingling creature feature is just right for middle grade readers.
The perfect read for book-smart students seeking social connection and friendship stories.
PREMIUM
Rosa by Starlight
A delightful story, this would be a great read-aloud and a possible segue to Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books.
PREMIUM
The Queen of Ocean Parkway
An intrepid mystery with unexpected sci-fi elements, this story packs an emotional punch similar to Kelly Yang’s Front Desk.
PREMIUM
Eighteen Flowers for Grandma
An exceedingly quiet picture book that lightly touches on Jewish traditions and will fill a need for stories of perseverance.
PREMIUM
The Quest for a Tangram Dragon
This fun, STEM-focused book blends Chinese culture, history, and mathematics into a useful and memorable story.
PREMIUM
So Much Slime
Purchase where books on slime are eagerly requested and consider pairing with an always welcome slime-making activity.
PREMIUM
Good Night, Zodiac Animals
While not a must-have, this calming introduction to the lunar zodiac will find readership in larger collections.
PREMIUM
We Shall Be Monsters
A horror-fantasy woven with Indian mythology, this fun and unique duology opener is recommended for purchase.
Hand this book to readers who enjoy emotionally raw, true-to-life stories like Saints of the Household by Ari Tison or Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
PREMIUM
The Breakup Artists
A worthy addition to any YA collection, especially for those looking for a romantic comedy that tackles some important relationship struggles many teens will deal with as they reach their college years.
PREMIUM
Our Wicked Histories
Inspired by The Fall of the House of Usher, this novel has banshee lore, a closed room mystery, a gothic mansion, and a forbidden romance. All the elements are there, but it just doesn’t quite come together. An additional purchase.
PREMIUM
Helen Keller
Rawlins persuasively provides young readers with a crisp, memorable introduction to an enduring hero.
PREMIUM
Dancing in the Storm
Beyond FOP-specific details, any reader will find resonance with Kate’s shock, frustration, anger, and resilience.
Netz and Newhouse provide a spookily entertaining lesson in bypassing easy assumptions.
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